Episode Four: "The Night That Refused to End"
1052 Words
After Jeff headed towards the exit door, bearing the humiliation that came with Clara's slap, his eyes purposely followed Clara as she stormed out of the club, her friends pulling her away. Each step she took felt like another strike against his pride. He stood motionless, his jaw tight, fists clenched. The bass of the music resumed, but it felt far away, like the world was mocking him.
He finally turned toward the crowd, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Party’s over!”
Then he walked out.
Outside, the night air was heavy and humid. The parking lot was almost empty, the sound of music muffled behind the club doors. Jeff leaned heavily against his car, chest rising and falling in uneven bursts. His hands trembled slightly, fists clenching and unclenching as rage and humiliation tangled violently inside him. The sting on his cheek had faded, but the bruise to his pride burned deeper, sharper, unforgiving.
Tayo stepped outside moments later.
He had known Jeff for years. Knew his pride. Knew his arrogance. But what he saw now unsettled him. This was not just anger. This was something darker.
“Bro, leave am,” Tayo said gently, keeping his voice low. “It’s not worth it.”
Jeff said nothing. His jaw tightened. His eyes stared blindly into the darkness.
“Guy, calm down,” Tayo continued, edging closer. “She’s just one girl. You’ve had worse insults than this. Why you dey let this one enter your spirit like this?”
Slowly, Jeff turned. His eyes were cold. Hollow. Dangerous.
“No one,” he said quietly, every word dripping with fury, “has ever slapped me before. Not my mother. Not even my father.” His voice trembled as the truth burned through him. “Then why that i***t? Who the hell does she think she is?”
Tayo exhaled. “It was just a dare, bro. If na your sister wey stranger wan kiss like that without her consent, you go like am? Just think am well. She panicked. Fear push her do am.”
Jeff’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “And that’s exactly why she needs to learn. She needs to learn her place.”
Tayo’s heart skipped. “Jeff… what are you implying?”
“She embarrassed me,” Jeff snapped, stepping away from the car. His voice rose, cracking with raw emotion. “In front of everyone. Do you know what that means for me? Tomorrow, the whole internet will know. Jeff Okafor — slapped by a nobody.”
He kicked a loose stone viciously. It shot across the parking lot and disappeared into the darkness.
“My father will laugh at me,” he continued bitterly. “Then come his lectures. His disappointment. Like I haven’t failed enough already.”
Tayo reached for him. “Guy, no let anger push you into madness.”
Jeff yanked his arm away. “I’ll teach her who she messed with.”
Tayo stiffened. “Don’t do something stupid. You’re angry now, but—”
“I said she’ll pay,” Jeff cut in coldly.
The finality in his voice sent a chill through Tayo.
Jeff yanked open his car door and slammed it shut with a violent force. The engine roared to life, shattering the stillness of the night. As he pulled out of the parking lot, the red glow of his taillights vanished into the darkness — carrying with it a storm that had only just begun.
By morning, the slap had gone viral.
Clips of the incident filled social media: blurry videos, laughing emojis, captions mocking the once untouchable Jeff Okafor.
#JeffGotSlapped trended on campus. Memes flooded group chats.
Jeff sat on his bed, scrolling through his phone, his fury deepening with every post.
A knock sounded at the door, but it opened before he could respond. His sister, Sandra, walked in.
“Jeff, what is this nonsense I’m seeing online?” she demanded.
He didn’t look up. “It’s nothing.”
She scoffed. “Nothing? You’re trending for the wrong reason. People are laughing at you. Dad will lose his mind when he sees this.”
“Let him,” Jeff scoffed, his voice laced with bitterness. “He already thinks I’m a disappointment anyway.”
Sandra froze. Then her tone softened slightly. “And you think this will help? You think embarrassing yourself like this will make him proud?”
That did it.
Jeff’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing. “Stay out of my business, Sandra.”
“I won’t,” she shot back. “I saw the video. You tried to force yourself on a girl. What did you expect — flowers and applause?”
“Watch your mouth,” Jeff growled.
“No, you watch yours,” she snapped. “Your pride will destroy you one day, Jeff. You can’t keep living like the world owes you something.”
He stood up abruptly, towering over her. His hands trembled with restrained fury.
“I said stay out of it,” he warned. “I don’t care if you’re my elder sister. Push me again, and I swear I’ll slap the living hell out of you.”
The words hung heavy in the air. Sandra stared at him, stunned. Hurt flashed across her face, quickly replaced by disgust.
“Look at you,” she said bitterly. “A spoilt brat with too much money and zero sense.”
She turned sharply and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls trembled. The echo lingered.
Jeff exhaled slowly, his shoulders sagging. For a brief second, guilt pricked his chest. But it vanished almost immediately, swallowed by anger and wounded pride.
He picked up his phone, dialed a number, and waited.
“Tayo,” he said when his friend answered. “Find out where that girl stays.”
Tayo hesitated. “Jeff, don’t start this. I thought we already discussed this yesterday.”
“Do it,” Jeff ordered. “And call me when you have it. I need it ASAP.”
He ended the call and stared at the ceiling. The humiliation replayed in his mind like a curse. The laughter. The whispers. The sting.
He couldn’t let it go. Not when the whole city was watching.
- Writer
